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Unravelling the association between accelerometer-derived physical activity and adiposity among preschool children: A
Rikstje Wiersma1, Barbara F Haverkamp2,3, Jasper H van Beek1
1Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Insights
Physical activity in preschool children is linked to lower body fat, but not necessarily to body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference. More moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA) is associated with reduced adiposity measures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Exercise Science
Background:
- The relationship between physical activity (PA) and adiposity in young children remains unclear.
- Existing evidence is often inconclusive, necessitating further investigation into specific PA intensities and adiposity measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between accelerometer-derived physical activity and various adiposity outcomes in preschool children.
- To clarify the impact of different physical activity intensities and sedentary behavior on childhood adiposity.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving children aged 2-7 years.
- Searches conducted in Embase, MEDLINE, and Web of Science for studies on PA, sedentary behavior, and adiposity.
- Random effects meta-analyses performed for different PA intensities and adiposity outcomes, including body fat percentage, weight status, fat mass, fat mass index, and skinfold thickness.
Main Results:
- Substantial evidence shows an inverse association between moderate-to-vigorous or vigorous PA and body fat percentage, weight status, fat mass, fat mass index, and skinfold thickness.
- No significant associations were found between total PA, sedentary behavior, or different PA intensities and body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference.
- Preschoolers with higher moderate-to-vigorous PA levels exhibited lower adiposity compared to their less active peers.
Conclusions:
- Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is inversely associated with several key adiposity indicators in preschool children.
- Physical activity, particularly at moderate-to-vigorous intensities, may play a role in managing body composition beyond BMI and waist circumference.
- Further research is needed to understand the nuances of physical activity's impact on different adiposity measures in early childhood.
Abstract:
Evidence on the association between physical activity (PA) and adiposity in young children is inconclusive. A systematic review and meta-analyses were conducted to examine associations between accelerometer-derived PA and varying adiposity outcomes in preschool children. Searches were conducted in Embase, MEDLINE and Web of Science to identify studies on the association between total PA, sedentary behaviour or different PA intensities and adiposity in children aged 2 to 7 years. Separate random effects meta-analyses were performed for varying PA intensities and adiposity outcomes. Fifty-six articles were included in the review and 48 in the meta-analyses. There was substantial evidence of an inverse association between moderate-to-vigorous- or vigorous PA and body fat percentage (stdβ [SE] = -0.162[0.041]; 5 studies), weight status (r = -0.120, P<.001; 11 studies), fat mass (stdβ [SE] = -0.103[0.051]; 5 studies), fat mass index (stdβ [SE] = -0.121[0.036]; 2 studies) and skinfold thickness (stdβ [SE] = -0.145[0.036]; 4 studies). However, total PA, sedentary behaviour, and different PA intensities were not associated with body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference. Adiposity levels were lower among preschool children engaged in more (moderate-to-) vigorous PA compared with their peers, but no associations between PA and BMI or waist circumference were found.
